The expectations for college students are becoming more and more unattainable by the day. The cost of education is rising, and students are taking on more student loans than ever. This often comes with the knowledge that they will be paying these loans off for the rest of their life. Even more shocking than this is the knowledge that students come to the moment of needing to choose between paying for their education and paying for basic necessities. If they wish to stay in school, they will sacrifice their basic needs, and this is where many of Oakland University’s students may find themselves.
In the past several years, usage in the Golden Grizzlies Pantry has increased. In the last 10 months, over 1,300 visits have been made by shoppers, and almost $2,000 in financial assistance via gift cards has been distributed. The pantry has been working hard to meet the needs of the community, but it is becoming increasingly clear that students need more than food assistance.
This is where a new partnership between the Golden Grizzlies Pantry and the Student Basic Needs Coalition comes in. Thanks to SNBC, I have been attending a series of 11 sessions to learn how to assist students in applying for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits. And this piece is part of that process!
I’m here to share this new development with the readers of the Oakland Post. We now have access to something called the mRelief screener, which is a 60-second survey students can fill out to gauge their chances of being eligible to receive SNAP benefits. Links are posted on QR codes all around campus and on our social media so that all students can fill out this simplified screener. If a response of “likely eligible” is received, we recommend that students fill out the full application!
There is a misunderstanding amongst many college students that these benefits are meant for people who are “worse off” than they are. This is a deeply rooted misbelief created by years of avoiding the conversation around students’ basic needs. I am writing to encourage students to apply because benefits exist for YOU! They are there to be utilized, and no student should be choosing between paying for their textbooks and having enough money to feed themselves. SNAP benefits can assist with that. You may be eligible for up to $280 a month in free groceries, and you should utilize it if you can.
The Golden Grizzlies Pantry and Garment Closet exist to help students receive food, toiletries, and clothing resources. However, we understand that our supplies can be limited, and we are here to guide students toward additional help. This additional money is not limited to any particular kind of food purchases, students can personalize purchases based on dietary needs, family size, and other individual factors.
We are here to support students. Applying for these benefits can seem overwhelming and scary, even if you have the reassurance from a screener that you are likely eligible. If filling out the application is too intimidating to take on alone, we will help! Feel free to reach out to the pantry staff, and we will sit with you and fill out the application step by step. Anything we can do to support our university community is in the best interest of the pantry and its staff.
Although college affordability and student basic needs insecurity will not be solved in a day, this is a step towards assisting students as they push through the difficult situation they may find themselves in. We are grateful to have the space to serve our students and hope that this piece will bring additional awareness to all we can do for students in need!
